Varner, Paulson Lead U.S. Team at Intercontinental Cup

Courtesy: cyclones.com

Release: 10/19/2010

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KHASAVYURT, Russia – The United States freestyle team placed sixth in the final standings at the Intercontinental Cup, and were led by former Iowa State national champions Jake Varner and Trent Paulson.

Varner, a four-time NCAA Championships finalist, ended the Cup competition with a 5-0 record at the 96 kg (211.5 lbs) weight class.

“The game ball goes to Varner,” national freestyle Coach Zeke Jones said. “He dominated most of his matches, but one time his back was against the wall against the Georgian and he got a suck-it-up takedown. It is what we are looking for, Jake is a winner and that is why he ran the field today.”

Former Cyclone three-time All-American Trent Paulson also competed for the U.S. team at the 74 kg (163 lbs) weight class, and finished with a record of 3-2.

The U.S. team lost their first three matches, but closed the day with two victories. They defeated the Korean team and the Belarus team by identical 5-2 scores, after dropping three tightly contested matches in a row.

“Overall, we are right in the mix with the best teams,” Jones said. “I’m sure it sounds like a broken record but we would have won all of our duals if we would have put the nail in the coffin at the right moment. We have to finish matches, and until we do, we are just hovering at good.”